KRS § 13A.270 Public hearing and comments -- Notice -- Communication by email regarding administrative regulations -- When notification of regulations compiler required -- Effect of failure to timely notify regulations compiler.

13A.270 Public hearing and comments -- Notice -- Communication by email regarding administrative regulations -- When notification of regulations compiler required -- Effect of failure to timely notify regulations compiler. (1) (a) In addition to the public comment period required by paragraph (c) of this subsection, following publication in the Administrative Register of the text of an administrative regulation, the administrative body shall, unless authorized to cancel the hearing pursuant to subsection (7) of this section, hold a hearing, open to the public, on the administrative regulation. (b) The public hearing for an: 1. Ordinary administrative regulation shall not be held before the twenty- first day or after the last workday of the month following the month in which the administrative regulation is published in the Administrative Register; or 2. Emergency administrative regulation shall not be held before the twenty-first day or after the last workday of the month in which the administrative regulation is published in the Administrative Register. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude the administrative body from holding additional public hearings in addition to the hearing mandated in subparagraph 1. or 2. of this paragraph. (c) The administrative body shall accept written comments regarding the administrative regulation during the comment period. The comment period shall begin on the date the administrative regulation is filed with the regulations compiler and: 1. For an ordinary administrative regulation, shall run until 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the calendar month following the month in which the administrative regulation was published in the Administrative Register; or 2. For an emergency administrative regulation, shall run until 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the calendar month in which the administrative regulation is published in the Administrative Register. (2) Each administrative regulation shall state: (a) The place, time, and date of the scheduled public hearing; (b) The manner in which interested persons shall submit their: 1. Notification of attending the public hearing; and 2. Written comments; (c) That notification of attending the public hearing shall be transmitted to the administrative body no later than five (5) workdays prior to the date of the scheduled public hearing; (d) The deadline for submitting written comments regarding the administrative regulation in accordance with subsection (1)(c) of this section; and (e) The name, position, mailing address, email address, and telephone and facsimile numbers of the person to whom a notification and written comments shall be transmitted. (3) (a) A person who wishes to be notified that an administrative body has filed an administrative regulation shall: 1. Contact the administrative body by telephone or written letter to request that the administrative body send the information required by paragraph (d) or (e) of this subsection to the person; or 2. Complete an electronic registration form located on a centralized state government website developed and maintained by the Commonwealth Office of Technology pursuant to subsection (13) of this section. (b) A registration submitted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection shall: 1. Indicate whether the person wishes to receive notification regarding: a. All administrative regulations promulgated by an administrative body; or b. Each administrative regulation that relates to a specified subject area. The subject areas shall be provided by the administrative bodies and shall be listed on the centralized state government website in alphabetical order; 2. Include a request for the person to provide an email address in order to receive regulatory information electronically; 3. Be valid for a period of four (4) years from the date the registration is submitted, or until the person submits a written request to be removed from the notification list, whichever occurs first; and 4. Be transmitted to the promulgating administrative body, if the registration was made through the centralized state government website. The collected email addresses shall be used solely for the purposes of this subsection and shall not be sold, transferred, or otherwise made available to third parties, other than the promulgating administrative body. (c) An administrative body that promulgates administrative regulations shall: 1. Request that the Commonwealth Office of Technology add it to the centralized state government website if the administrative body is not already included; 2. Maintain a list of registrations transmitted to the body pursuant to paragraph (b)4. of this subsection; 3. Establish a method to transfer the registrations if there are personnel changes or other disruptions; and 4. Communicate updates to subject areas and contact persons to the Commonwealth Office of Technology as needed. (d) A copy of the administrative regulation as filed, and all attachments required by KRS 13A.230(1), shall be emailed by the administrative body: 1. To every person who has: a. Registered pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection; and b. Provided an email address as part of the registration request; 2. Within five (5) working days after the date the administrative regulation is filed with the Commission; and 3. With a request from the administrative body that affected individuals, businesses, or other entities submit written comments that identify the anticipated effects of the proposed administrative regulation. (e) Within five (5) working days after the date the administrative regulation is filed with the Commission, the administrative body shall mail the following information to every person who has registered pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection but did not provide an email address: 1. A cover letter from the administrative body requesting that affected individuals, businesses, or other entities submit written comments that identify the anticipated effects of the proposed administrative regulation; 2. A copy of the regulatory impact analysis required by KRS 13A.240 completed in detail sufficient to put the individual on notice as to the specific contents of the administrative regulation, including all proposed amendments to the administrative regulation; and 3. A statement that a copy of the administrative regulation may be obtained from the Commission's website, which can be accessed online through public libraries or any computer with internet access. The Commission's website address shall be included in the statement. (4) (a) If small business may be impacted by an administrative regulation, the administrative body shall email a copy of the administrative regulation as filed, and all attachments required by KRS 13A.230(1), to the chief executive officer of the Commission on Small Business Innovation and Advocacy within five (5) working days after the date the administrative regulation is filed with the Commission. (b) The email shall include a request from the administrative body that the Commission on Small Business Innovation and Advocacy review the administrative regulation in accordance with KRS 11.202(1)(e) and submit its report or comments in accordance with the deadline established in subsection (1)(c) of this section. A copy of the report shall be filed with the regulations compiler. (c) An administrative body shall not be required to send a copy of an administrative regulation that was amended after comments in accordance with KRS 13A.280 to the Commission on Small Business Innovation and Advocacy, unless its chief executive officer requested a copy pursuant to KRS 13A.280(8). (5) (a) If a local government may be impacted by an administrative regulation, the administrative body shall send, by email if the local government has an email address, a copy of the administrative regulation as filed and all attachments required by KRS 13A.230(1) to each impacted local government in the state within five (5) working days after the date the administrative regulation is filed with the Commission. If the local government does not have an email address, the material shall not be sent. (b) The email shall include a request from the administrative body that the local government review the administrative regulation in the same manner as would the Commission on Small Business Innovation and Advocacy under KRS 11.202(1)(e), and submit its report or comments in accordance with the deadline established in subsection (1)(c) of this section. A copy of the report or comments shall be filed with the regulations compiler. (c) An administrative body shall not be required to send a copy of an administrative regulation that was amended after comments in accordance with KRS 13A.280 to a local government, unless its contact person requested a copy pursuant to KRS 13A.280(8). (6) Persons desiring to be heard at the hearing shall notify the administrative body in writing as to their desire to appear and testify at the hearing not less than five (5) workdays before the scheduled date of the hearing. (7) The administrative body shall immediately notify the regulations compiler by letter if: (a) No written notice of intent to attend the public hearing is received by the administrative body at least five (5) workdays before the scheduled hearing, and it chooses to cancel the public hearing; and (b) No written comments have been received by the close of the last day of the public comment period. (8) (a) 1. Upon receipt from interested persons of their intent to attend a public hearing, the administrative body shall notify the regulations compiler by letter that the public hearing shall be held. 2. If the public hearing is held but no comments are received during the hearing, the administrative body shall notify the regulations compiler by letter that the public hearing was held and that no comments were received. (b) Upon receipt of written comments, the administrative body shall notify the regulations compiler by letter that written comments have been received. (9) (a) If the notifications required by subsections (7) and (8) of this section are not received by the regulations compiler by close of business on the second workday of the calendar month following the end of the public comment period, the administrative regulation shall be deferred to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the subcommittee. (b) A filed administrative regulation that is deferred under this subsection due to failure to timely notify the regulations compiler may still be placed on the subcommittee's agenda for informational review pursuant to KRS 13A.030(3) or (4). (c) If a filed administrative regulation is placed on the agenda pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection, the full review of the filed administrative regulation shall still be deferred in accordance with this subsection. (10) The notifications required by subsections (7) and (8) of this section shall be made by letter. The letter may be sent by email if the administrative body uses an electronic signature and letterhead for the emailed document. (11) Every hearing shall be conducted in such a manner as to guarantee each person who wishes to offer comment a fair and reasonable opportunity to do so, whether or not such person has given the notice contemplated by subsection (6) of this section. No transcript need be taken of the hearing, unless a written request for a transcript is made, in which case the person requesting the transcript shall have the responsibility of paying for same. A recording may be made in lieu of a transcript under the same terms and conditions as a transcript. This section shall not preclude an administrative body from making a transcript or making a recording if it so desires. (12) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a separate hearing on each administrative regulation. Administrative regulations may be grouped at the convenience of the administrative body for purposes of hearings required by this section. (13) The centralized state government website that provides for the notification of the filing of administrative regulations and amendments to existing administrative regulations shall provide: (a) The electronic registration notification form required by subsection (3)(a) of this section; (b) Up-to-date contact information and subject areas for promulgating administrative bodies; and (c) A form or contact information for an administrative body to: 1. Request to be added to the website if not already included; and 2. Add or change its subject areas and contact persons published on the website. Effective: June 27, 2025 History: Amended 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 2, sec. 3, effective February 25, 2025; and ch. 88, sec. 10, effective June 27, 2025. -- Amended 2021 Ky. Acts ch. 7, sec. 9, effective February 2, 2021; and ch. 185, sec. 98, effective June 29, 2021. -- Amended 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 192, sec. 5, effective June 27, 2019. -- Amended 2016 Ky. Acts ch. 82, sec. 24, effective July 15, 2016. -- Amended 2012 Ky. Acts ch. 138, sec. 11, effective July 12, 2012. -- Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 166, sec. 3, effective July 12, 2006. -- Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 15, effective June 20, 2005. -- Amended 2004 Ky. Acts ch. 165, sec. 5, effective July 13, 2004. -- Amended 2003 Ky. Acts ch. 89, sec. 13, effective June 24, 2003. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 180, sec. 11, effective July 15, 1996. -- Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 410, sec. 19, effective July 15, 1994. -- Amended 1988 Ky. Acts ch. 425, sec. 9, effective July 15, 1988. -- Created 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 417, sec. 27, effective April 13, 1984. Legislative Research Commission Note (6/27/2025). This statute was amended by 2025 Ky. Acts. chs. 2 and 88. Where these Acts are not in conflict, they have been codified together. Where a conflict exists, Acts ch. 88, which was last enacted by the General Assembly, prevails under KRS 446.250. Legislative Research Commission Note (6/20/2005). 2005 Ky. Acts chs. 11, 85, 95, 97, 98, 99, 123, and 181 instruct the Reviser of Statutes to correct statutory references to agencies and officers whose names have been changed in 2005 legislation confirming the reorganization of the executive branch. Such a correction has been made in this section. Legislative Research Commission Note (7/13/2004). In subsection (1)(a) of this statute, a reference to "subsection (5) of this section" has been changed to read "subsection (7) of this section." When the statute was amended in 2004 Ky. Acts ch. 165, sec. 5, the subsections were renumbered, but the reference to subsection (5) was not changed to conform. The Reviser of Statutes has made the conforming change under the authority of KRS 7.136.